Flexible mop head



y 1949. P. s. VOSBIKIAN ET AL 2,469,060

FLEXIBLE MOP HEAD Filed July 9, 1948 Gttcrneg Patented May 3, 1949 OFFICE FLEXIBLE MOP HEAD Peter S. Vosbikian and Thomas S. Vosbikian, Melrose, Pa.

Application July 9, 1948, Serial No. 37,884

1 Claim. 1

The object of this invention is to devise a novel surface cleaning device which can be used in a wet or a dry condition and which is constructed in a novel manner to adapt it for a large variety of uses such as for example a broom, as a scrubher, as a mop and as a squeegee.

The cleaning material is preferably of sponge rubber having a flexible back which serves as a squeegee. The device is provided with a handle detachably connected with the squeegee so that a person can extract the dirty water without contacting with it by holding the handle in one hand and pressing the end portions of the squeegee together, thereby compressing the sponge rubber. By such construction and arrangement the device will not injure furniture when contacting with it and it will flex to conform to the surface or surfaces over which it is moved.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, our invention comprehends a novel cleanin device.

It further comprehends a novel surface cleaning device comprising a block of sponge rubber or other suitable material to which a strip of stiff but flexible rubber has been applied with its forward edge extending outwardly of the block so that such strip can be used as a squeegee.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, we have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of it which We have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and the invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning device, embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the application of the squeegee of the device to a pane of glass.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the squeegee portion of the device as applied to a floor.

Figure 4 is a transverse section showing the device as used for mopping.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the manner of extracting the dirty water.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the application of the device to irregular surfaces.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates a block of sponge rubber, preferably rectangular in contour, to which a flexible and resilient backing 2 is secured by adhesive or in any other desired manner. The backing is in the form of a strip of flexible rubber which overhangs the forward edge of the block of sponge rubber to form a squeegee.

A bolt 3 extends through the backing and is provided with a thumb nut 4. A handle socket 5 receives a handle 6, the socket being in the form of an open ended sleeve or tube which is flattened and apertured to receive the bolt and bent to provide the proper angle for the handle.

The manner in which the surface cleaning device is used will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows.

The sponge rubber block is resilient and absorbent and does not injure furniture or other articles with which it contacts. Due to the provision of the flexible backing and the sponge rubber, it may be moved along an irregular surface in contact therewith, for example as shown in Figure 6 where the sponge rubber is contacting the floor base board and the molding.

After the surface to be cleaned has been scrubbed with the sponge rubber, any excess water can be collected by using the squeegee as in Figure 3, and the water picked up by the sponge rubber as in Figure l.

The dirty water is extracted from the sponge rubber by pressing the opposite portions of the backing together as shown in Figure 5, and the hand of the user does not come into contact with the dirty water.

The cleaning device herein disclosed can be manufactured at a minimum cost, and the head consisting of the sponge rubber and its backing can be replaced, when worn out, by the user by simply inserting the bolt through the handle socket and applying the thumb nut.

Having thus described the invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A flexible mop head, comprising an elongated block of absorbent sponge material, a backing strip of flexible rubber secured to and covering substantially the entire area of the top face of said block and extending sufficiently beyond an edge thereof to form a flexible, straight line squeegee, a handle socket, and means to secure said socket to said strip centrally of its ends to provide flexible end portions at opposite sides of the socket, said end portions being flexible in either direction whereby the sponge material may be compressed between the two flexed end por- 3 tions of said strip and to permit cleaning the Number corner of a. room. 602,897 PETER S. VOSBIKIAN. 644,925 THOMAS S. VOSBIKIAN. 654,345 5 1,497,079 REFERENCES CITED 1,771,325

The following references are of record in the fil e of thls patent 2 3 I UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 1 123 Number Name Date 565,589 Ballam Aug. 11, 1896 4 Name Date Daboll Apr. 26, 1898 Kahl Mar. 6, 1900 Enis July 24, 1900 Gullborg et a1. June 10, 1924 Cotter July 22, 1930 Anderson Apr. 25, 1939 Carvalho Feb. 27, 1939 Lorenz et a1. June 18, 1940 Bates Nov. 12, 1940 

